About

Dr. Yang Li is an Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing at the University of Texas at Austin. She received her PhD in Nursing from the University of Michigan, along with her MSN and BSN from Shandong University in China. Prior to joining UT Austin, she completed postdoctoral training at the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing. Her research focuses on women’s health, particularly among underserved populations affected by violence and trauma, such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and intimate partner violence (IPV), with an emphasis on mental and maternal health. Dr. Li's work examines the bio-psychosocial pathways linking maternal trauma history and psychopathology to perinatal health outcomes. She has conducted research with Chinese immigrant women, exploring the prevalence, risk factors, mental health consequences, and lived experiences of IPV in this population. Building on this research, she developed the first culturally tailored intervention that integrates mental health care with safety and empowerment to address both psychological and practical aspects of IPV recovery, aiming to improve access to IPV and mental health support for Chinese immigrant women. Her research extends to investigating mental health disparities in underserved populations, including the impact of racial discrimination on issues such as depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and suicidality among Chinese immigrants. Through her work, Dr. Li strives to shed light on the challenges faced by women affected by violence and trauma and to address mental health disparities among underserved groups, with the potential to significantly impact efforts to reduce violence-related health disparities and improve women’s health.

Research topics

• Materials science
• Chemical engineering
• Chemistry
• Physical chemistry
• Composite material
• Chemical physics
• Metallurgy

Selected publications

• Long-range frustration in Minimal Vertex Cover Problem on random graphs

  Communications in Theoretical Physics · 2026-05-19

  preprintOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract A vertex cover on a graph is a set of vertices in which each edge of the graph is adjacent to at least one vertex in the set.
The Minimal Vertex Cover (MVC) Problem concerns finding vertex covers with the smallest cardinality, which is a typical computationally hard problem among combinatorial optimization on graphs.
Here, we follow the idea of the long-range frustration (LRF) in MVC configurations proposed in [PRL \textbf{94} 217203 (2005)].
We correct its analytical framework and further extend it from Erd"{o}s-R'enyi random graphs to general random graphs.
We formulate the framework of LRF into a percolation model, and analytically estimate the energy density of MVCs on uncorrelated random graphs only with their degree distributions.
We test our framework on some typical random graph models along with other methods, such as a hybrid algorithm of greedy leaf removal (GLR) procedure combined with survey propagation-guided decimation (SPD) algorithm and an analytical theory based on the GLR procedure which ignores LRF effect.
We show that, when there is a percolation of LRF effect, the above three predictions of energy density, say $x_{\rm LRF}$, $x_{\rm GLR + SPD}$, and $x_{\rm GLR}$, follow a scenario as $x_{\rm LRF} > x_{\rm GLR+SPD} > x_{\rm GLR}$ in most cases and $x_{\rm GLR+SPD} > x_{\rm LRF} > x_{\rm GLR}$ in the other cases, and $x_{\rm LRF}$ is more closer to $x_{\rm GLR+SPD}$ than $x_{\rm GRL}$ as $|x_{\rm LRF} - x_{\rm GLR+SPD} | < x_{\rm GLR+SPD} - x_{\rm GLR}$.
Our results show that LRF is a proper mechanism for the formation of complex energy landscape in the MVC problem and a theoretical framework of LRF helps to characterize its ground-state properties.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Fluorinated engineering toward stable lithium metal batteries

  Nano Energy · 2025-05-06 · 6 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• First-Principles-Augmented KAI Model Bridging Nucleation to Domain-Wall in Ferroelectric AlScN

  2025-12-06 · 1 citations

  article

  A novel ferroelectric (FE) switching framework for wurtzite AlScN is proposed, fundamentally decoupling polarization reversal into two distinct physical stages: Sc-sitepreferential nucleation succeeded by electric-field-driven domain wall (DW) propagation. Validated by μs-pulse electrical measurements, the first-principles-driven model quantifies the transition from nucleation-dominated to DWdominated kinetics. The first phenomenological Monte Carlo framework for AlScN ferroelectrics is presented, experimentally verifying Sc-induced nucleation acceleration and enabling arbitrary-field switching waveform simulations. The advancement establishes the foundation for ultra-high-speed FeRAM and neuromorphic computing in AlScN.

  PublisherDOI

• Glass-like thermal transport in polycrystalline perovskite lithium-ion conductor Li _3/8 Sr _7/16 Hf _1/4 Ta _3/4 O ₃

  Chemical Communications · 2025-01-01 · 1 citations

  article

  at room temperature, comparable to some amorphous materials yet distinct from typical crystalline perovskites. Our theoretical analysis indicates that diffusons contribute significantly to heat transfer within this highly disordered material. These findings provide crucial insights into thermal transport in LSHT, which are essential for effective thermal management in all-solid-state batteries utilizing this material.

  PublisherDOI

• Interface Engineering for Constructing Air-Stable and Lithiophilic Garnet-Type Solid Electrolytes

  Nano Letters · 2025-06-07 · 4 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding

  Garnet-type solid electrolytes (SEs) exhibit high ionic conductivity, a wide electrochemical window, and lithium stability, making them ideal for solid-state Li metal batteries. However, their air sensitivity leads to Li2CO3 formation, causing poor Li wettability, high interfacial resistance, and dendrite growth. To address this, Mg3(PO4)2 is coated via a wet chemistry method, converting Li2CO3 into a Li3PO4/MgO composite upon heating. This composite prevents reactions with moisture and CO2, ensuring air stability while enhancing Li wettability and reducing interfacial resistance. The Li+-conducting Li3PO4 and insulating MgO in the composite interface enable rapid Li+ diffusion while effectively suppressing electron penetration, resulting in a high critical current density of 1.1 mA·cm–2, with stable cycling for over 1200 h at 0.4 mA·cm–2. Furthermore, the modified SEs demonstrate excellent cycling stability in Li metal batteries with LiFePO4 and LiCoO2 cathodes, confirming the practical feasibility of this solid electrolyte interface modification strategy.

  PublisherDOI

• Amorphous-Nanocrystalline Fluorinated Halide Electrolytes with High Ionic Conductivity and High-Voltage Stability

  Journal of the American Chemical Society · 2025-04-23 · 29 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding

  All-solid-state sodium-ion batteries (ASSSIBs) offer a cost-effective, scalable alternative to rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, but their advancement requires solid electrolytes with high ionic conductivity, wide electrochemical stability, and robust interfacial compatibility. Here, a fluorine-doped halide solid electrolyte (2NaF–ZrCl4, 2-NFZC) featuring an amorphous-nanocrystalline structure with high ionic conductivity (2.35 × 10–4 S cm–1 at 25 °C) and good high-voltage stability is presented. Fluorine doping in 2-NFZC promotes Zr–F bonding with limited Na–F interaction, which facilitates fast Na-ion transport through disordered regions and the NaF/amorphous phase interface. Paired with a NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode, a Na15Sn4 anode, and a Na3PS4 anode interlayer, the all-solid-state cell with the 2-NFZC electrolyte demonstrates a discharged capacity of 137.1 mAh g–1, 81.1% capacity retention over 600 cycles, and suppressed interfacial side reactions. These findings highlight the potential of fluorine doping in designing advanced solid electrolytes for high-performance all-solid-state Na-ion batteries.

  PublisherDOI

• Origin of Intrinsically Low Thermal Conductivity in a Garnet-Type Solid Electrolyte: Linking Lattice and Ionic Dynamics with Thermal Transport

  PRX Energy · 2025-06-23 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  Understanding thermal transport in solid electrolytes is essential for improving the performance, reliability, and safety of all-solid-state batteries. Garnet-type lithium-ion conductors are promising candidates for solid electrolytes, yet their thermal-transport mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we connect the lattice and ion dynamics of single-crystal garnet-type <a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><a:msub><a:mi>Li</a:mi><a:mrow><a:mn>6.5</a:mn></a:mrow></a:msub></a:math><c:math xmlns:c="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><c:msub><c:mi>La</c:mi><c:mn>3</c:mn></c:msub></c:math><e:math xmlns:e="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><e:msub><e:mi>Zr</e:mi><e:mrow><e:mn>1.5</e:mn></e:mrow></e:msub></e:math><g:math xmlns:g="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><g:msub><g:mi>Ta</g:mi><g:mrow><g:mn>0.5</g:mn></g:mrow></g:msub></g:math><i:math xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><i:msub><i:mrow><i:mrow><i:mi mathvariant="normal">O</i:mi></i:mrow></i:mrow><i:mn>12</i:mn></i:msub></i:math> to its intrinsically low thermal conductivity. Our study reveals that the single crystals grown by the floating-zone method exhibit remarkably low glasslike thermal conductivity. Using first-principles calculations and inelastic-neutron-scattering measurements, we identify both the acoustic and numerous optical phonon modes, which stem from the complex crystal structure of the material. Notably, a low-energy optical branch exhibits an avoided crossing with acoustic phonons near 7 meV. These optical modes can enhance the scattering of heat-carrying acoustic phonons and reduce thermal conductivity. Furthermore, the calculated Grüneisen parameters are large, especially for the vibrational modes around 6 meV, indicating strong anharmonicity, with a noticeable contribution from lithium-ion vibrations. A two-channel thermal-transport model is employed to describe the weak temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity, which can be attributed to the substantial contribution of diffuson transport facilitated by the abundance of optical phonons and intrinsic anharmonicity. These results offer valuable insights into the thermal transport in a broad class of ionic conductors of interest for energy conversion and storage applications.

  PublisherDOI

• Performances of Flame Retardants in Microgravity: Insights from Opposed Flame Spread over Electrical Wires

  2025-07-13

  article1st authorCorresponding

  Fire safety is a critical consideration for space exploration. Flame retardants are a straightforward solution to improve the fire resistance of flammable material critical to the success of space missions, but their performances in microgravity conditions can differ from ground-based evaluations due to altered heat and mass transfer. Understanding the behavior of flame retardants in microgravity is essential for designing effective fire safety strategies for spacecraft. This study examines the opposed-flow extinction limits of flames spreading over low-density polyethylene (LDPE) samples. The parabolic flight experiments consider both monophasic cylindrical samples and electrical wires featuring a Nickel-Chrome core. The samples are loaded with three flame retardant systems, i.e. Ammonium Polyphosphate/Pentaerythritol (AP), Red Phosphorus (RP), and the commercial Intumescent Adeka (AD). and RP works by combining gas-phase free radical inhibition and solid-phase charring, while AP and AD rely on intumescence and expand upon heating to form a thermal barrier that slows down pyrolysis. Experimental results reveal that the presence of AP and RP in a sample significantly increases the extinction limits, while AD-loaded samples show no notable improvement compared to pure LPDE samples. The presence of a metal core markedly enhanced the performance of AP, highlighting the need to consider the use of fire retardant as part of a complex assembly. These findings illustrate the varied performance of flame retardants in microgravity and highlight the importance of selecting materials based on their mechanisms and compatibility with specific applications. This research contributes to the development of fire-safe materials tailored for the unique challenges of space exploration.

  PublisherDOI

• Self‐Regulating the Local Conjugation of Tertiary Aniline toward Highly Stable Polymer Li Metal Batteries

  Advanced Materials · 2025-03-27 · 13 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Abstract Pursuing high energy/power density lithium metal batteries (LMBs) with good safety and lifespan is essential for developing next‐generation energy‐storage devices. Nevertheless, the uncontrollable degradation of the electrolyte and the subsequent formation of inferior electrolyte/electrode interfaces present formidable challenges to this endeavor, especially when paring with transition metal oxide cathode. Herein, a fireproof polymeric matrix with a local conjugated structure is constructed by 4,4′‐methylenebis ( N , N ‐diglycidylaniline) (NDA) monomer via in situ polymerization, which promotes the use of ester‐based liquid electrolyte for highly stable LMBs. The conjugated tertiary anilines in this PNDA electrolyte effectively tune the Li + solvation sheath and generate conformal protective layers on the electrode surfaces, resulting in excellent compatibility with both high‐voltage cathodes and Li‐metal anodes. Moreover, the accumulated electron density endows PNDA with a powerful capability to seize and eliminate the corrosive hydrofluoric acid, which strikingly mitigates the irreversible structure transformation of LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 (NMC) particles. As a result, the PNDA‐based Li||LiFePO 4 and Li||NMC cells reach excellent electrochemical and safety performance. This study provides a promising strategy for the macromolecular design of electrolytes and emphasizes the importance of “local conjugation” within the polymers for LMBs.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Molecular engineering of renewable cellulose biopolymers for solid-state battery electrolytes

  Nature Sustainability · 2024-09-03 · 117 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• John B. Goodenough

  88 shared

• Sen Xin

  Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences

  37 shared

• Weidong Zhou

  Beijing University of Chemical Technology

  29 shared

• Amin Cao

  23 shared

• Nan Wu

  Chinese Academy of Sciences

  23 shared

• Zhiming Cui

  South China University of Technology

  21 shared

• Biyi Xu

  The University of Texas at Austin

  20 shared

• Hui Xie

  Shenzhen University

  19 shared